Hamas Dissolves Gaza Government, Urges Israel to Honour Ceasefire
The government in the Gaza Strip managed by Hamas has announced plans to dissolve its civil administration as part of a handover to a national committee, a move intended to pressure Israel into fulfilling the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Mohammad Jawad Abdul Khaleq Al-Farra, chairman of the government’s emergency committee in Gaza, stated his intention to resign and transfer authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), led by Ali Shaat. The NCAG was established by a peace council formed by former US President Donald Trump during the mediation of the October 2025 ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
In a statement, Al-Farra said the decision carries political and national dimensions and reflects a commitment to the interests of the Palestinian people. He noted that the move was taken in response to the views of mediators and various Palestinian factions. The handover of Gaza’s administration is expected to remove one of the justifications Israel has used to maintain the blockade, close border crossings, and obstruct the entry of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials into the Gaza Strip.
However, Al-Farra acknowledged that past experience shows Israel has often failed to uphold its commitments even when stated reasons were eliminated, meaning there is no guarantee this step will lead to immediate policy changes on the ground. He described the decision as a national response to emerging initiatives, expressing hope that it would pave the way for further measures to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s residents, who continue to face a severe humanitarian crisis due to war and blockade.
The move represents a significant political shift for Hamas, which has administered Gaza since 2007 after winning legislative elections the previous year. Since the ceasefire came into effect in October, the group has repeatedly expressed its readiness to step back from day-to-day governance. “Hamas has taken a new step by relinquishing control over the Gaza Strip, in order to remove any pretext for the occupation to continue its aggression and war of extermination,” said Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem. “We hope the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza can begin its work immediately, and Hamas affirms its readiness to hand over governance responsibilities to the committee to ensure its success.” Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Government Media Office in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that all Interior Ministry personnel would continue their duties to prevent a security vacuum.